RALEIGH, NC (AP) -- Democratic North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue says she is not running for re-election this year.

Perdue released a statement Thursday saying she won't seek another four-year term because she believes a re-election bid would make it more difficult to find a bipartisan solution to fund public education in a divisive political environment.

She has faced poor poll numbers, continued budget troubles and a campaign investigation while Republicans took over the Legislature last year.

Perdue announced last week she would offer a budget this spring that would seek a sales tax increase for education. Republicans let a temporary sales tax increase expire last summer.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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